Traction connection and the like



NOV; 24, 1931. R KEELER TRACTION CONNECTION AND THE LIKE Filed March 29,1928 6 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 24, 1931. R KEELER I TRACTION CONNECTION ANDTHE LIKE Filed March 29, 1928 6 Shets-Sheet 2 Nov. 24, 1931. R KEELER1,833,713

TRACTION CONNECTION AND THE LIKE Filed March 29, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 3Nov. 24, 1931. A. R. KEELER TRACTION CONNECTION AND THE LIKE Filed March29. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Nov. 24, 1931.

A. R. KEELER TRACTION CONNECTION AND THE LIKE Filed March 29, 1923 6Sheets-Sheet 5 47077 Hi h m @i% Nov. 24, 1931. v A. R. KEELER 1,833,713

TRACTION CONNECTION AND THE LIKE Filed March 29, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6Patented Nov. 1931 l siren (stares ATENT OFFICE I I I I 3. semes ernLToNA, ILL-InoIs I TBAorIoiicoNnEoTIoN AND: THE' like 7 nas l-t n d inar'cn 29 1 92 8. Serial Ito/261 612.

V This invention has "to do with improvethat the traction machineitselftogether with ments in traction j connections. More" par the corngathering implement constitute subticularly it has to do with'improvementsin stantially a unitary combinationstructure.

if push bar connectionsby means of which the The traction connectionthus established i traction of a pushing machine such as a tracrea-chesbeneath the traction machine itself tor is communicatedto an implementor maand'is attached to the draw bar. connection chine in advancethereof and which is to be at the rear end of the traction machine bypushed over a field oralong the road. 4 means of an arrangement whichpermits the More especially the features of the present tractionconnection to rock about a horii- 10 invention relate to improvements insuch mazontal longitudinally extending axis. The chines as the foregoingin which the implefront end of the traction connection is atment beingpushed takes the form of an agri tached to the corn gathering implementitself cultural implement s uch as a corn gathering and'is supportedthereby so that the-weight 'machine or the like. It will presentlyappear I of the front end of the traction connection is hen/everthatcertai'n features of the invenborne by the steering wheels of thecorn tion are not limitedlto use in'connection with gatheringmachine:The traction connection traction machines for pushing corn gatheringalso is secured to the front portion of the implements, but may also beused With adtractor byan attachment thereto whichpervantage for thepushing and maneuvering of mits the tractor proper to rock with respect0 other forms of'agricultural machine as well to the traction connectionon a longitudinally 0 as other forms of land working implement extendingaxis. such as snow ploWs,etc.* However, inasmuch y h f f g lhgarrangement the comasthe construction hereindisclosed has been hi cdWeight of the tractor and the corn devised g pecially' ith a Vi w t metin th gatherer is carried by the traction Wheels '5 requirements inthe pushing and maneuverat the rear. end of the tractor and by the ingor corn gathering machines, and inasmuch steering wheels of the corngatherer' atthe as certain of thefeatures of the'invention are front endof the combined unit, and the front especially applicable to this classofwork I and rear portions Of the combined unitale have hereinillustrated and will describe, a articulated together so that they canrock H 9 construction intended especially for this {with respect to eachother on a longitudinally class of service. In so doing however, Iwishextending axis and by what corresponds to a it clearly understood that Idonot intend threepomt suspension. By this means the th reby t limitth sfulness f th vfea combined implement is enabled to travel over tures ofthe inventionexcept asIIma-y' do so the uneven surface-of the ground,maintain- 5 in the claims. 7 g 7 ing all four of the wheelsalways infirm and The tract-ion machine herein disclosedhas full load contactwith the ground and withalso been devised especially for the purpose outstraining or warping any portions of the of pushing or maneuvering corngathering combined unit at points where they are not machines or thegeneral type disclosed in intended to warp.

' Letters Patent of;the United States No. 7 The corn gathering implementitself'is pro-' 60 1,219,827, issued to me" March 13',"1917;"and videdwith forwardly reaching points or the construction herein disclosed alsoincoraprons which are intended to travel close l orat t i ffi th efeatures disclosed in to the surface of the ground or in line con-Letters Patent of the; United States .No. tact therewith so as to insureproper raising 1,657,360, issued tome January 24, 1928. In and gatheringof corn ears fromdown stalks the general type of combination machinedisand the like. Even when traveling over unclosed ins'aidLetters'jPatent No; 1,657,360, even. ground these points should alwaysthere is provided a traction hitch'or connecmaintain'the same operativecontact with tion whereby a tractor located behind thecorn the surfaceof the ground; In the construcgatheringmachine is so connected theretot-lon of traction machine dlsclosed 1n my earlier Patent No. 1,657 ,360the traveling of the steering wheels into rats or other low placescauses a depression of the front portion of the corn gatheringimplement, and the riding of the rear traction wheels onto highgroundcauses a similar result. Conversely a riding of thefront steeringwheels onto a high place or a riding of the rear traction wheels into alow place causes an elevation of'the front portion of the corn gatheringimplement. The forwardly extending mov-.

' able mounted points oraprons arecapable of such an amount of adjustingmovementas will take care of the slight unequalities in the surface ofthe ground. However, it

has been'foundthat excessive variation or inequalities in the surfacebeing traveled on result either in forcing the front portion of the corngathering implement downsolidly against the surface of the ground orelse the front portion "of: the corn gathering imple ment is'r aised.entirely clearof the surface of the ground depending on the nature ofthe inequalities encountered. In the former case it has sometimeshappened that the entire Q load of the front portion of the combined[machine has been imposed on the front portion or, the corn gatheringimplement so that the steeringwheels have been relieved this hasresultedinbreaking of parts or other damage tothe machine and in otherCases hasresulted in inability. to properly manipulate or maneuver themachine. The main object of the; present invention to provide a tractionconnection between thetractor and the agricultural implement ofsuc-hanature that the'operator may from time ,to. time cause a tilting actionto take More particularly is anobject to provide an arrangement suchthat the operator can almostiminediately and on very short notice Jeither raiseor lower the'front portion of the -'machine,,thusenablinghim'to follow the variations in the ground surface with rapidityif necessary.

p It is a further object in connection with the foregoing to provide avcombined machine' which. is very nicely balanced so that the amount offorce .which the operator mustexercise in performing the foregoingevolution 7 will be relatively small. This balancing is secured byestablishing; a transverse pivotal-point or axis substantially at theline where the loads are naturally in a condition ofbalance. v 7

It is alsoan object of the invention to bring the control lever oroperating device by means of which the foregoing evolutions are formedto a position where said part is conveniently within reach of theoperator in his normal operating position. In this connection thecombined form of machine disclosed in the aforesaid Patent No.

11 ,657 ,360 is provided with a platform or operatin stand to which allof the difierent coiitro s for steering, engine operation, etc., havebeen brought. The operat ng lever for tilting the front portion of thecorn gathering implement is, also brought to a position closeltothisoperating stand.

A further feature of. the invention relates to improvements in thedriving connection. for transmitting power from the tractor engineforwardly into the corn gatheringportion or the implement" so as tooperate the latter by power derived. from the tractor engine. In thisconnection I will state that such a connection is disclosed in myearlier Patent No. 1,657,360.:

I One of the objects of the present invention isto provide an adjustableconnection for this power, which connection is so arrangedthat it will.automatically adjust it self as the tilting is performed so that theproper driving connection will always be inaintained..witlioutparticular thought on the part of the operator.

A furtherfeature of the invention relates to. the provisioiiofconstructions such that the corn gathering-portion: of the implement isin effect a self-containedmachine which can be completely disconnectedfrom the. traction machine, the traction hitch being thenremoved, and;the tractor itself may be then, used inits normal fashion after'replacing its propersteering wheels Other objects and uses of theinvention will appear from a detailed description of the same which.consists in the features "of construction and combinations of partshereinafter described and claimed.

I In the drawings: v I

Figural shows aperspective view of a combined machine embodying thefeatures of the present invention, the agricultural implement beingtilted gup. or raised to its high position;

F ig. 2 shows a view similar to that ofFig. 1 but showing "the:agricultural implement tilted forward or. down, and Fig. 2isaperspective, view more nearly looking directly toward the side thanFig. 1;

Fig. 3, shows a fragmentary detailed side view of; the connectionbetween the front end of; the tractionconnection. and. the rear portionofthe agricultural. implement, the

tilting lever. being-thrown somewhat for- :wardfofthe. central positionso as to lower the front; portion of the agricultural implement. "Fig.-3 also shows the belt tightener and equalizer device in' thecorresponding position; I r

" Fig. 4 shows a view similar to that of Fig. 3 with the exception thatthe lever has been thrown backward to its extreme position in order toraisethe front end of the agriculturalimplement as much as possible.This figure also shows the belt tightenerin the corresponding position;and a portion of the racksegment has been broken away to reveal thedevices locatedbehind the same;

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary side View corresponding to Fig. '3 butlooking from the other side of the machine; in each of the igs. 3, 4 and5, the steering wheel at the near side of the .machlne has been removedso as to better reveal the other parts. Fig. 6 shows a fragmentaryperspective View of the swinging portion of the belt tightener;

"Figfl? showsa fragmentary plan view of 55. the rear end of a familiarform of tractor haying applied thereto a traction connection embodyingthe features of the present invent Fig. 8 shows a side viewcorresponding to Fig. 7 but with the traction wheel at the near side ofthe machine removed;

- lii1'e10'10 of Fi'g. 8 looking in the direction of the arrowsj Figs. 9and 10 are both on enlarged scale as compared to Figs. 7

and'8." 4.0

- Referring first'to Figs. 1 and 2 in particular, l have illustrated anagricultural mplement 12 in the form of a tworow corn gatherer, -thesame being operatively attached to the front portion of a familiarconstruction oftractor 13. The tractor illustrated hap-- pens'to be whatis known as a Fordson tractor, although it will be understood that I donot limit the usefulness of my invention to this or anyother particularmachine except as I maydo so in the claims. The tractor illustratedincludes the two reartraction wheels Hand 15 (only one of which happensto appear in Figs. 1 and 2). This tractor also-includes the usual engine16 and appurtenances including the driving connections forthe rearwheels. This tractor also includes a transverse front axle 17 which isswivellymounted on the front portion ofthe base ofthe engine so thatsaid front axle may tilt about a longitudinal axis in accordance 'withthe well understood practice.

Thefront axle 17 also'has pivotedto its 1 ends the steering knuckles 18(only one of which appears in Fig. 2) and the tractor also"includes theusualsteering wheel 19 by means of which these knuckles are turnedduring the usual steering operations of the tractor.

The particular corn gathering machine herein disclosed includes a framedesignated generally by the numeral 20. This frameineludes a transversetop frame bar 21. It also includes the rearwardly extending side bars 22and 23 which extend rearwardly from the ends of the bar 21, and the rearends of the bars 22 and 23 are joined'together by a cross bar-24';

Reaching down from the cross bar 21' at the positions of the bars 22 and23 are thevertical posts 25 and 26. The lower ends of these posts areconnected together by a cross bar 27; There are a pair of side-bars 28and 29 extending rearwardly from the bar 27 at the positions of thelower ends of the posts 25 and 26. The rear ends of the pairs 28 and 29are joined together by the cross bar 30 (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5). There isalso a pair of vertical posts 31 and 32 reaching between the rearportions of the bars 2228 and 2329 respectively. 1

1t thus happens that the rear portion of the agricultural implementincludes a substantially rectangular open \VOIk'bOX-llkfl i'rame. Y ISecured to the lower sidecorners of this frame there are the journalbearings 33 and angles to establish bearings orknuckles upon which arejournaled. the steering wheels 39 and respectively. The weight of theframe of the agricultural implement is thuscommunicated to said wheelsthrough the medium of the sleeves'33 and 34. p

The upper ends of the steering posts '35 and 36 'are'journaled in theupper front corners of the frame by means of boxes 40 and 41. To theupper ends of the steering posts there ios iio.

are connected the forwardly projecting arms r 42 and 43 the front endsof which are connected togetherby the reach rod 44 (see Figs.

The post 35 also carries at its upper end the curved rack bar 45.

iis

The steering shaft 46 is journaled in the front and rear brackets 47 and48 on the upper corner of the frame at that side nearest to the rack 45.The front end of the steering shaft 46 carries a worm 49 meshing withthe rack and the rear end of said shaft car- 'ricultural implement areturned for the steering function.

- Reaching downwardly from the front poriao " 9 the tractor itself), iscommunicated to the tion of the frame there arefthe triangular plates 51and 52. These are rigidly connected to the frame and constitute downwardextensions therefrom. we a I There is a triangular cradle frame reachingfrom the rear end of the'tractor at thepo:

. sition-of the draw bar, forwardly beneath thetractor and intoconnection with the plates I '51 and 52 just referred to.- This cradleframe includes the side bar-s53 and 1, the rear ends of which arebrought together by means of a rectangular hollow box like casting 55(see'FigQ). This casting 55 is large enough to receive the draw bar lug56 on the; rear end of the tractor itself .with a sufficient amount ofclearance to allow .;the cradle frame to oscillate or rock about ahorizontal longitudinally extending axis which passes forwardly beneaththe tractor. The box. 55 is connected to thedraw bar 56 by a verticalpin 57 dropped into place through these means of U bolts 59 (see Figs.8. and

The result is that the front axle 17 rests upon and is rigidly'connectedto the side bars of the cradle frame, the front wheels of the tractorproper, having been removed from the spindles 18. r a v I The side bars5 3 and 54 of the cradle frame may if desired be. connected together andreinforced by a latticegincluding angular cross passes 60 (see Fig. 7

The front ends of he cradle bars are pivotally connected to the lowerportions of the triangular plates 51 and 52 bymeans of a cross rod 61which reaches through all of theseparts and pivotally connects the-mtogether as shown inseveral of the figures.

Thus it happens thatftheframe of the agri;

culturalimplement itself may be rocked back and forth on an axis.extending trans :verselyof the combined machine, thus malring'itpossible to tilt the entire agricultural implement with respecttoathecra'dle frame and the tractor. 7 The axial rod orpiii 61 islocated substantially in line with but "slightly below thecenters of thesteering wheels 39 and 40 of the agricultural implement. Consequentlythe weight of the front portion of the cradle frame (which includes thefront port on of pivot bar 61 somewhat below the centers of the wheels39" and 40. By so designing the agricultural implement and properlyplacing this pivot bar 61 in the plates 51 and 52,

. the pivot bar will stand directly u'nder the centers of the wheelswhen the agricultural implementis at the normal orcentral position ofits pivotal movement. In order to tilt the agricultural movement ineither direction therefrom it is necessary'to raise the pivot bar 61slightly so that a force must be applied for this purpose. 7 By properlyrelating theparts however, they are largely in a condition of balance,since the rearwarclly exa portionof the frame or the agriculturalimplement will largely balance the forwardly extending portions of saidimplement. Thus I have provided a construction whereby the tiltingoperations in both directions may be veryv easily accomplished.

There is a shaft 621' ournaled to the bars 28 and 29 and extendingacross 1 the boxlike frame already referred to. Thisshaft carries therack segments 63 and 64 which mesh with corresponding segments 65 and 66onthe side bars 53 and 54: of the cradle frame. Consequently the turningof the shaft 62 will cause the segments 63 and 64 to ride up and down onthecoi'responding segments 65 and (36 thereby tilting the agriculturalimplement with respect to the front end of the cradle frame. i

For the foregoingpurpose the shaft 62 is provided with an operatinglever 67 having tendin the usual latch 68 and hand grip 69. The

latch 68 engages the segment 70 on the bar 28. Thus it is possible bysetting the lever 67 into the proper position to setthe tilt of theagricultural implement to whatever point may be desired; a I

The lever 67 occupies apositionrelatively close to the hand wheel 50 bywhich the combined machine is steered. It is thus possible for theoperator to perform the necessary evolutions for changing the tilt ofthe agricultural implement from time to time aswell as steering themachine. a i-Qt is not deemed necessary at thistime in thisapplicationto describe the construction and mode of operation of the corn'gatheringelement in detail It may be stated, however, that the same includesvarious devices'which are power driven, including various chainconveyors such as 71, an elevator 72 by means of which the picked andhusked ears are carried up and delivered toja wagon or other receivingelement. All of these power levices are supplied by power delivered fromthe engine 16. For this purposesaid engine includes a pulley 73 whichmay receive a belt 7 4; said belt passes over another pulley 75 securedto the shaft 76 which is journalled the box lik frame projectingrearwardly from the corn gathering element. This shaft F 46 in turndrives the various power driven elements through chain and gear drivesthe de lails of which it is notdeemed necessary to descr be herein.

it will be noted that as the agricultural implement 1S tilted back andforth the position I ofthe pulley 75 changes with respect to the qditions.

position of the pulley 7 3. Consequently the belt 74 must be adjustedfro'm time to time in order to maintain the proper driving con- Mountedon the frame bar is a brac'ket 77 1 and pivoted on the bracket 7 7 b atthe point 7 7 is'an arm 7 7 which is free to' move up and down, rjournaling on the point 77* for this purpose. At its rear end said arm 77carries 7 an idler pulley"78which rests uponthe top run of the belt 74.The arm 77 is preferably a double arm as shown in perspective in Fig. '6sothat the pu'lle is journaled between the V ends of the parts t ereof.

[Reaching down from the outer end of the arm 77 is a yoke 79, and thelower end-of this yoke is pivotally connected to the rear end of'an arm'80." The front end of the arm 80 is pivoted to the side bares of thecradle frame by meansof a bracket 81. The arm 80 passes beneath thecrossbar '30 at the lower rear cornerof the boxlikeframe, and the partsare so'related that as the agricultural implementfis tiltedthe bar'30pushes'down onthe arm some thus dra-ws'down the pul- "ley 78; throughthe medium of the yoke 79.

, g, and maintain the same in a taut condition.

If necessary another pulley or roller 82"is placed between the yoke'arms7 9, the same servingto p'ush down the'bottom run of the belt in case ofextreme movement so as .to preventthe. top and bottom runs of the belt,1 from interfering with each other.

I By the foregoing means it is evident that" at," ffrom the enginetofthe. agricultural. implenent at all times and proper combination isveffected. Q .v

front end a serlesof points 83, 84 and $5 'which are pivotally connectedto the main frame of the agricultural implement and may a properdriving. connection is maintained a It will be understood agriculturalimplement or cornga'the'rer 12includes at lts swing up and down forrelatively slight adjustments and irregularities in the ground surface.-'These'points normally ride on the surface of the'ground in the positionindicatedin Fig. 2. When the agricultural implement is tilted into theposition of Fig.1

said points will continue to rest on the surface of the "ground untilthe backward tilt becomes sufficient totake up the full extent [oftheir, possible'movement with respect to 5 "that 'said conveyoral'wa'ys'occupiesithe ourthe name'- of the agricultural implement,

whereupon theboints also will-be raised above 'Ihave' therefore provideda slack take u'p which I" will now describe in detail.

implement.

rect position with respect to the moving parts of the corn gatheringmachine itself. The parts are so arranged that during the backward tiltof the corngathering implement this conveyor will not strike orinterfere with the tractor or other portions of the combined While Ihave herein shown and described only a single embodiment of the featuresof my presentinvention still I do not intend to limit myself theretoexcept as I may do so in the claims.

I claim: 1. In device of the class, described, the

combination with a tractor having driving Wheels, of a tractionconnection extending to a position in advance thereof, said tractionconnection belng rlgldin a fore and aft direction and capablepfsustaining load that direction, an agrlcultural implement in ad- Vanceof the tractor and traction connection and having a pair of steeringland wheels, located at opposite sides of the machine, a transverseaxial connection between the front port1on of the tract1on connectionand the agricultural implement at points immediately ad- ]acent to thesteering land wheels permitting rocking movement between these partsabout a transverse axis at right angles to the y direction of travel,racks on the tractionconnectlon, pinions on the agricultural implement,meshing with said racks, and means under the control'of the operator foradjusting the positions of the pinions on the racks, to thereby adjustthe degree of tilt between the agricultural implement and the tractionconnection, on such axis, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described,'the

I combination of a tractor, an agricultural implement in advancethereof, a pair of supporting land wheels for thesides of theagricultural implement, and a traction {connection reaching beneath thetractorto aposition in proximityito the agricultural implement andserving to support the load ofthe front portion of the tractor andtransmit traction forwardly to the agricultural implement, a pivotalconnection betweenthe traction connection and the agricultural implementadjacent to the positions of'the supporting land wheels permittingrocking movement between these parts on an axis extending transverselyof the device and at right angles to the direction of travel, and meansunder control of the operator for ad justing and securing the degree oftilt of the agricultural implement with respect to the tractionconnection on the axis, substantially as described; a v

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a tractor, anagricultural implement in advance thereof having ground supportingmeans, and a traction connect on extending between these parts, apivotal coninection between the front portion'of the traction connectionand theagricultural-imple- .ment adjacent to the; ground supporting,means permitting rocking movement between these parts on. an axiseXte-ndingtransverse ly ofthe machine and at right angles to thedirection of travel, and means under control 1 ofthe operatorforadjusting and securing the parts 1n desired position on the axis,substantially as described.

, ,4. In. a device of the class described, the combination of a tractor,anagricultural implement in advance thereof and pushed thereby,.eground. supporting means i for the agricultural implement, a pivotalconnection Tbetween thetractorand the agricultural implement. adj acent,to the.,.ground supporting "meansv permitting these parts to be. rockedstantially:as described.

"with respect to each other about a transverse I en ma means undercontrol of theoperator for adjusting the: position of these-partswithrespect to each other on the, 2LXlS,-'S11b- .5 ln.=afdevice offtheclass described, the combination of a tractor, an I agriculturalimplement. in advance thereof. and having :atitsfront end .a seriesoftoes adapted to traveljon the surface of the ground being ,traver'se'ch.said toes" being vertically adjustable with r sume to. the agriculturalimplement, meansffor: limiting the .amount vofsuch adjustability,ground:supporting means for H the tagricultural implement, apivotalconnectionZbetween the tractor an'd the agricul- "tural implementadjacent to. the. ground supporting jmeans permitting rockingmovementbetween .these parts. on an auisextending transversely of the machineand at right angles'to. the direction of travel, andvmeans imder.control of the operator for la'djusting and secnring the rocked positionbetween .atyrightangles {to-the direction of travel,

aground supporting means "for the agricultur al. implement. in.substantial proximity to said. aXis, .means, under control of the oper-1a'torffor .adjusting and securinglthe parts in desired. rocked position'on .the axis, a belt drive, connection between the .tractorzand .thepower driven. instruinentalities aforesaid,

a slack take-up in conjunction with saidbelt drive, and. means.flfor-adj usting the posit-i on of: said slack take-up as. the.tractorv and agricultural implement. aread'justed with. respect toeach=.-otheron the transverse axisafore- Lsaid, substantially. asdescribed; 7 r

v 7. .In a device of-the class described, the combinationofagtractor,-=anagricultural J: .-i1'nplement in advance thereof andhaving suitable devices forv gathering-and collecting ear corn-fromstalks in the field, said devices "including-power adriveninstrumentalities, a gpivotal connection"- between the tractor andisaid. implement permitting rocking Jmovee.

vment between these parts on anaxis extend- .transversely'ofthemachine-and atright angles to thedirection of travel, groundsu portingmeans for the agricultural imple- -ment in substantial proximity -to-;said axis,

means under controlof the operatorfor ad j Listing and securing theparts W in desire d rocked -position and aipower drive'connectionbetween the-tractor and the power drlven v instriimenta-litiesvaforesaid, said connection including power I driving :means adjustable:asto length-andangle harmoniously with .the 1 adjustment of i-theagricultural implement with respectto the tractor, substantiallyasdescribed.

8. Ina device 0 "combinationof a tractor, an agricultural im-' plementinadvance thereof, and having suit- 1 able devices "for; gathering andcollecting-fear cornfromstalks inthe field, Said devices including ahusker and a conveyor extending upwardly. at an angleaway from theimplement for the purpose .of deliveringhusked ears at a-n elevatedpoint sidewisewith respect to the implement, apivotal connection betweenthe tractorand said implementpermit- =tingrocking movementlbetween theseparts on an axisextending transversely ofthe-rmachine and.atrightiangles tothe direction of travel, ground-supporting .me ansforthe'agricultural implement. in substantial proximity tov said :aXisand means under control of the operator for adjusting and securingthezparts in desired rocked positionon the axis, the arrangement beingsuchthat the agricultural implement including the husker and conveyormove entirely clear orrhe tractor throughout all normalranges ofadjustment, substantially asdescribed.

.9. In a device oflthe class described the combination of a tractor, anagricultural im plement in-advance: thereof andhaving-suitable devices'for gathering and collectingear corn-from stalksinthe field, saiddevicesincluding power driven vinstru-mentalities, La;-

pivotalconnection between the tractor and said implement permittingrocking move- ,mentbetweenthese parts on an axis extending transverselyof .the machine and at right angles to the direction ofv travel, .groundsupporting means for the agricultural implement in substantial proximity1 to said .axis, means under control .ofthe operator for adjusting andsecuringthe parts in desired: rocked position,- a ,belt drive connection-between the f class described the tractor and the power driveninstrumentalities aforesaid, a swinging arm pivotally connected on theagricultural implement and reaching backwardly adjacent to the beltdrive aforesaid, an idler pulley on said arm engaging the run of thebelt to take up the slack thereof,and means effective to swing said armand cause the pulley to take up said slack in accordance with thetilting movement between the tractor and the agricultural implement,substantially as described.

10. Ina device of the class described the combination of a tractor, anagricultural implement in advance thereof and having suitable devicesfor gathering and collecting the ear corn from stalks in the field, saiddevices including power driven instrumentalities, a pivotal connectionbetween the tractor and said implement permitting rocking movementbetween these parts on anaxis extending transversely of the machine andat right angles to the direction of travel, ground supporting means forthe agriculture implement in substantialproximity to said axis, a beltdrive connection between the tractor and the 7 power driveninstrumentalities aforesaid, an

arm pivotally connectedto the agricultural implement and extendingadjacent to the belt drive, an idler pulley on said arm engaging the runof the belt, and means for swinging said arm to move theidler pulley inproportion to the tilting action between the parts to. thereby insureproper belt drive at all tilted positions, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described the combination of a tractor, anagricultural implement in advance thereof and having suitable devicesfor gathering and collecting ear corn from stalks in the field, atraction connection extending beneath the tractor and forwardly thereof,a pivotal connection between the traction connection and theagricultural, implement, permitting rocking of these parts about ahorizontal transverse axis and 'at right angles to the direction oftravel, ground supporting means for the agricultural implementinsubstantial proximity to said axis, suitable steering land wheels in theagricultural implement serving to support the same and also to supportthe front portion of the traction connection, an operators stand on thetraction connection, a steering wheel convenient of access to anoperator at said stand, and means also convenient of access to anoperator at said stand for adjusting and securing the position of tiltof the agricultural implement with respect to the traction'connection,substantially as described. ALONZO R. KEELER.

